Clinical Pontus is set-piece king
NORWICH City boss Daniel Farke admitted his side must improve their defending at set-pieces after Pontus Jansson’s header saw Leeds earn a narrow victory.
The Canaries altered their usual marking tactics to accommodate the threat of Jansson, but that didn’t stop the Swede from popping up with the firsthalf winner.
Farke admitted that losing the game in the fashion they did was frustrating. “We knew that Pontus was their biggest threat,” said Farke.
“Normally we defend everything in zonal marking but out there we changed it because he is such a big threat.
“I have to say it was a brilliant header. He was clinical in his finish. We have to defend better in these situations.
“It was generally a really good away performance. It was a really close game in the first half and in many periods of the first half we dominated and created chances.
“It’s a tough away game at Leeds. It’s frustrating and disappointing that we will be driving home with no points.”
James Maddison was put in behind the defence after a classy flick from Nelson Oliveira but Kalvin Phillips produced a stunning tackle to deny his opposite number before he could pull the trigger.
Having intercepted the ball deep inside Norwich’s half, Ronaldo Vieira should have assisted Kemar Roofe for what could have been his fourth goal in a week, but the midfielder’s pass was too heavy.
Luke Ayling was inches away from putting the hosts ahead as his volley from Ezgjan Alioski’s free-kick cannoned off the post.
The visitors’ relief was shortlived however, as less than a minute later Jansson headed Pawel Cibicki’s set-piece off the post and into the bottom corner.
Maddison should have levelled the game in first-half injury time but he blazed over from 10 yards after Oliveira’s effort had been parried by Felix Wiedwald.
Wiedwald was called into action early in the second half to palm away a close-range drive from Alex Pritchard, while Angus Gunn turned a Samuel Saiz shot around the post before Phillips’ swerving piledriver flew past the upright.
Pritchard came close to what would have been a brilliant equalising goal as his looping shot bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Saiz should have put the game to bed five minutes later but he curled his effort against the post from inside the box.
Subsitute Pablo Hernadez nearly made it 2-0 in the sixth minute of stoppage time but his low shot found the sidenetting.
Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen admitted that the win further fueled the belief that they can challenge for promotion this year. “I am very pleased for the performance and with the three points,” he said.
“It’s a victory that gives us more belief that we are where we belong, close to the top six.
“We were the team who deserved the three points from the opportunities. If you can win the games playing not so well, it’s very positive.
“Felix [Wiedwald] showed his character. After the mistake he made at QPR, here he went out and made some very good saves.
“It’s another clean sheet on his account. He may be one of the best goalkeepers in this league referring to the clean sheets.”